Food bank is here

Food distribution under the new food bank initiative is expected to start on Tuesday to identified Windhoek households earning a self-declared income of less than N$400 per person per month.
According to the permanent secretary of the ministry of Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare, I-Ben Nashandi, beneficiaries will be assessed continuously to determine who are “no longer poor.”
During the launch of the long-awaited food bank yesterday President Hage Geingob said the government’s aim is to establish food banks in all towns.
Food parcels will be distributed on a monthly basis by street committees that are comprised of unemployed youths from the respective communities who will receive a modified basic income grant.
“The street committee members will also be engaged in providing social services in communities. This will include ensuring that children in the communities attend school, among other things,” said the president.
The food bank initiative is led by the former Cuban ambassador to Namibian, Angel Dalmau.
To date, 117 street committee members have been recruited, 64 of whom are from Tobias Hainyeko Constituency and 53 from Samora Machel Constituency.
It is expected that 5 816 households, totalling 27 500 people, will benefit from the food bank in Tobias Hainyeko Constituency during this pilot period.


According to the president the pilot project will be extended to the rest of the Khomas Region by December this year and should be in other regions next year.
“To our citizens from other regions, do not despair. You have not been left out. This is a fine-tuning process; therefore we want to get things right before we come to you. In every war, you must win your small battles first before you progress to more complex battles,” he said.
Dismissing any notion that this initiative will create a dependency syndrome, the president said the poverty eradication framework includes a graduation model which is aimed to ultimately break the poverty cycle.
He also added that each region will have a different approach under the food bank initiative and that some approaches will be integrated with drought-relief activities.
“Where applicable, we also plan to provide ploughing and tractor services to subsistence farmers in the North, North-East, Kunene Region and in the South as well as all areas where subsistence farming takes place. We will ensure that no region is left out,” said the president.
Geingob thanked the commercial and game-farming communities, 10 manufacturers, local retailers, as well as some churches who have pledged to assist the food bank.
“This patriotic display by Namibians from all corners of the country is indicative of a firm belief in a brighter future for all Namibians. We are moving in the right direction and better days lie ahead.
“By pledging support to our efforts, you have all exhibited the power of the Harambee spirit. It has been said that, if one person suffers, then we all suffer. Togetherness is strength in courage,” he said.

Regional approach
According to poverty eradication minister Bishop Zephania Kameeta they will extend the pilot programme to other parts of the country once regional governors indicate their readiness to kick-start the process.

Food parcels
“Some of them are already ready, they have given the land. They are also looking for donors for structures where we will be keeping the dried food,” he said.
He expressed confidence that most of the country’s regions would be covered by the end of next year.
Thirty people were given food parcels that were handed over by the president yesterday, symbolising the launch of the food bank initiative today.
One of the beneficiaries identified to receive food starting Tuesday is 20-year-old Patricia Driemont, who lives with her child without any income.
After both her parents died a number of years ago she moved from place to place in search of a better life and eventually settled in the Tobias Hainyeko Constituency.
“I only attended school until grade 6 and dropped out. Now I just ‘zula’ but these food parcels will change my life, because there are nights that I sleep without food and even go without it for days. I really struggle and I cannot find a job without qualifications,” she said.



JEMIMA BEUKES